First, if the Republicans "changed their tone on ... personal freedom issues like gay marriage," they might gain some support from libertarians but only at the expense of losing support from social conservatives. We might see the Tea Party solidifying into a separate new party, rather than just a faction of the Republican Party. So rather than strengthen the Republicans against the Democrats, we would be worse off.

Secondly, the editorial fails to mention the evidence that government does have a vested interest in preserving traditional marriage, as has been recognized even by some liberals.

Marriage is much more than just a loving relationship between two people, as has been made evident by thoughtful research. The Proposition 8 defense team will be presenting much of this research to the Supreme Court this week.

Failed Eurozone

SAN CLEMENTE, Lawrence S. Wach: I wonder when the member nations of the European Union will grow up and realize that their grand plan was doomed all along to failure ["Cyprus and its financiers agree to bailout plan," News, March 25]?

This megalomaniacal group of unelected socialists has utterly failed at uniting a historically and economically divided continent under the guise of "democracy." The British were smart and kept their own currency, but the whole mess is going to collapse, and, in my opinion, the sooner the better. I feel sorry for the citizens in Cyprus who have to weather this latest storm with the ill-fated euro.

This misguided notion of a "one-world government" needs to be stopped now. The Eurozone proves why it cannot work.

Santa Ana's schools

ORANGE, Anne Hughes: There was an interesting juxtaposition on Saturday's front page of two contrasting stories about education and what makes it effective ["Behavior breakdown at Santa Ana Unified campus was ignored, teachers charge," and "From a shack to medical career"].

The severe discipline problems at Spurgeon Intermediate School in Santa Ana were described in graphic contrast to the success story of P.K. Fonsworth, a medical student at UC Irvine, who overcame poverty and life in a shack to graduate with multiple degrees. The woman who raised Fonsworth had a mantra: "Opportunity is education." She made every effort to support his goals.

The teachers at Spurgeon Intermediate cannot teach in the hostile environment that includes smoking marijuana in class, spitting on teachers and setting fires in the restrooms. Teachers can only do their job if the administration gives its full support and if the parents instill a sense of respect and responsibility in their children.

Santa Ana Unified has an educational imperative to act quickly and decisively to address the problems at Spurgeon. Every day without educational opportunity is a day lost for the future of our youth.

_______________

SANTA ANA, Jack Dean: I'm flabbergasted by the article on Spurgeon Intermediate School. A family friend taught English there in the 1990s. She said she was groped, and her tires were cut by thugs passing for students at that school.

Why is it the teachers' fault or even the district's problem? Where do the parents fit in here? If parents disciplined their children at a young age, there would be a little respect instilled in these kids. Sadly, parents of these students don't appear to be doing their jobs.

We, the taxpayers, are expected to fund these schools, feed these kids, and, now, we're running a baby-sitting service. It is the teachers' job to teach the material, not raise and discipline your kids for you. It used to be that the kid who didn't feel like learning or doing anything simply sat in the back of the classroom and would be quiet. That's not good enough anymore.

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